Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
WR Seams out of Shotgun Doubles sends both outside receivers vertical up the seams while the slot receivers run short option routes to the flat, and the TE/inline receiver on the right runs a quick out to clear the underneath area. The lone backfield route is a blue seam/vertical release from the inside receiver, creating a true four-vertical-lite shell with two deep seam threats stacked outside the two shallow flat routes. This is a zone beater designed to split the safeties and attack the honey hole between the hash and the numbers, with the primary read progressing from the two seam routes (left seam, then right seam) down to the flat option routes if the deep windows are closed.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and width, since two-high shells that stay tight in the middle get exploited by the seam routes splitting them. Watch the middle linebacker's drop, because if he sits shallow or bites on the run fake the seam route behind him will be wide open for a big play. Against man coverage, key the slot defenders, since the option routes underneath will settle or break based on leverage and can be user-picked if you jump the route early. Cover 3 with a deep-middle safety can rob one seam, so identify which side the safety leans to and throw opposite for the clean window. Watch for a nano blitz or interior pressure package, since the quick option routes underneath serve as the answer if the seams are covered and the pocket collapses fast.
Usage Tips
Use this play against two-high shells where you expect the safeties to widen or bite on shorter routes, since the seams will split them if they hesitate.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is in a single-high look, because the seams become tougher to fit but the middle of the field opens up if the MLB bites on run action.
Hot route the short option routes to hitches or flats versus man coverage to create easy separation underneath if the seams are taken away.
Pair this play with Four Verticals or PA Dagger in the same set to keep the defense guessing between full verticals and this seam-and-flat combo, forcing safeties to respect both concepts.
Best called on second or third and medium when you want a explosive-play shot but still have a safe underneath checkdown built in through the flat option routes.
